NCJ Number
177248
Date Published
1998
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This report examines the youth gang problem in the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (W/B HIDTA), which consists of Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Abstract
The report first provides an overview of the gang problem nationwide, followed by a general discussion of the nature of gangs and gang membership. Next, the report provides information on gangs in seven Maryland counties surrounding Baltimore and the District of Columbia; the District of Columbia itself; and Fairfax, Prince William County, Arlington County, Alexandria, and Loudon County in Northern Virginia. The report notes some general current trends among youth gangs in the W/B HIDTA region. Gangs are often loose confederations under general leadership, as opposed to strictly structured groups with a specific chain of command; the level of gang violence is increasing; there have been recent reports of nationally affiliated gangs migrating to W/B HIDTA region, but this has been difficult to verify; gang members no longer share the same ethnic characteristics; and gangs are experimenting in unfamiliar criminal activity, becoming hardcore, for-profit operations. The report also provides information on gang identifiers, including colors, magazines, hair, tattoos and jewelry, sports team paraphernalia, hand signs, graffiti, and the right/left rule. The report advises the need for local, State, and Federal collaboration in dealing with the inter-jurisdictional crime problem. 37 notes and appended maps of the locations of Baltimore City youth gangs (1997) and the presence of Bloods and Crips gangs in the eastern United States.